Description

It’s a big issue for 4x4s, with the all-new Land Rover Discovery revealed for the first time on the cover. DieselCar has a real exclusive and is the first magazine in the world to go on sale featuring the brand new British-built off-roader. Alongside, there’s also news of Skoda’s first seven-seat SUV, the Kodiaq, as well as first information on the latest Audi A5 Sportback, Hyundai i30, Peugeot 5008 and Volvo V90 Cross Country.

Our testers get into the driving seat of the new Renault Grand Scenic, the Ford Edge and Kia Optima Sportwagon, as well as drive facelifted editions of the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer and Mokka X. Toyota’s Proace Verso is tested for the first time, and we pilot the Volvo V90 on home soil. Jaguar’s F-Pace meets the Porsche Macan in an SUV showdown in this month’s twin test, and we drive the latest Citroën C4 Picasso, Volkswagen Passat Alltrack and Citroën C4 Cactus Rip Curl special edition. This month’s Eco Car supplement features tests of the Kia Optima plug-in hybrid, as well as the Lexus RX 450h off-roader.

In our comprehensive guide to 4×4 and off-roaders, we take a look at how the different systems work and the technology behind the cars, as well as examining the kind of upgrades possible to Land Rover’s legendary Defender and Discovery. We also visit a firm that is recreating the imposing looking Defender that appeared in James Bond film Spectre and go ice driving in Mazda’s baby four-wheel-drive crossover, the CX-3. That’s in addition to all the usual favourites, including Doctor Diesel, The Extra Mile and Jeerbox, as well as the most up-to-date data section in the business.

Tested:

• Citroen C4 Cactus Rip Curl BlueHDi 100
• Citroen C4 Picasso Flair BlueHDi 150
• Ford Edge Sport 2.0 TDCi AWD (178bhp)
• Jaguar F-Pace 3.0 AWD S
• Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid
• Kia Optima Sportswagon GT-Line S 1.7 CRDi Automatic
• Lexus RX 450h F-Sport
• Porsche Macan Diesel S
• Renault Grand Scenic Signature Nav dCi 160 EDC Automatic
• Toyota Proace Verso Family Compact Wheelbase 2.0D
• Vauxhall Zafira Tourer Elite 2.0CDTi BlueInjection Automatic
• Vauxhall Mokka X Elite 1.6 CDTi 2WD
• Volkswagen Passat Alltrack 2.0 TDI 4MOTION
• Volvo V90 Momentum D5 PowerPulse AWD Automatic

Long-term test reports:

• Audi A4 S line 3.0 V6 TDI (218) quattro Automatic
• DS 5 Prestige BlueHDi 180 Automatic
• Ford S-MAX Titanium Sport 2.0 TDCi (180) AWD PowerShift
• Kia Optima 3 1.7 CRDi
• MINI Clubman Cooper D
• Mitsubishi Outlander 2.2 DI-D GX4
• Peugeot 508 SW GT Line BlueHDi 150
• Renault Kadjar Dynamique Nav dCi 110 EDC Automatic
• SEAT Ibiza FR 1.4 TDI 5-door
• Skoda Rapid Spaceback SE Sport 1.4 TDI

Feature:

• Diesel Car guide to 4×4
• Land Rover Defender Spectre Feature
• Modifying and upgrading Land Rover Defender and Discovery
• Mazda CX-3 AWD ice driving

Used Car Buyer’s Guide:

• Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi AWD (2010 to 2015)